Issue Reports

The Republican-led 112th Congress has proven to be one of the least productive Congresses in recent memory. In 2007, when Democrats took back the majority and a Republican president was in the White House, more bills were passed and more than double the number of bills were signed into law. Republicans have also had fewer votes and Committee mark-ups and hearings.

As we look back on the first session of the 112th Congress, it’s clear that Republicans have taken little action on Americans top priorities: job creation, economic growth, and deficit reduction. With Christmas just a couple of weeks away and millions of children sending their Christmas lists to Santa, Democrats have put together our own wish list for next year.

It’s been nearly a year since Republicans took the House majority and they pledged to focus on Americans’ top priorities: creating jobs and growing our economy. But instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan basis to put Americans back to work and address the deficit in a meaningful way, Republicans have led an unproductive year and focused on the wrong priorities.

With millions of Americans struggling to find work, Democrats are urging House Republicans to work with us on an extension of emergency unemployment benefits before they expire at the end of this year. With 6.5 million fewer jobs in the economy today than when the recession began and over four people seeking employment for every open position available, it’s clear our economy and millions of unemployed Americans are depending on an extension of these benefits.

This week, House Republicans will continue pursuing partisan legislation that will not create jobs or boost our economy. Rather than putting forward a comprehensive jobs plan, Republicans are wasting time on bills that have nothing to do with jobs and undermine critical consumer and environmental protections.

This week our nation celebrates American Education Week, a time to focus on our commitment to students and educators and rededicate ourselves to ensuring all Americans can receive a quality education. While Republicans have voted several times over the past year to make reckless cuts to education and job training, Democrats remain committed to making investments in our nation’s future. For example, just two months ago, the Obama Administration awarded Community College and Career Training grants, authorized by the Reconciliation Act of 2010, to community colleges to expand and improve education and job training programs and create pathways for people who are looking for employment.

This week our nation celebrates American Education Week, a time to focus on our commitment to students and educators and rededicate ourselves to ensuring all Americans can receive a quality education. While Republicans have voted several times over the past year to make reckless cuts to education and job training, Democrats remain committed to making investments in our nation’s future. For example, just two months ago, the Obama Administration awarded Community College and Career Training grants, authorized by the Reconciliation Act of 2010, to community colleges to expand and improve education and job training programs and create pathways for people who are looking for employment.

Today the House will consider a balanced budget amendment. Democrats support balancing our budget and have worked to restore fiscal discipline, but today’s amendment is not the way to do it. With millions of Americans out of work and our economy still recovering from the recession, the balanced budget amendment could have harmful consequences by...

Today’s jobs report shows that we need to take action on jobs immediately. But after more than 300 days in the majority, Republicans have done little to address job creation despite their repeated claims that they would focus on Americans’ top priorities: creating jobs and growing the economy. However, Republican rhetoric doesn’t match their actions.

It’s been over 300 days since Republicans took control of the House majority and pledged to focus on growing the economy and creating jobs. While Republicans have repeatedly claimed they are focused on jobs, a look at their calendar paints a different picture:

Today marks 300 days since Republicans took control of the House majority and pledged to focus on Americans’ top concerns: growing the economy and creating jobs. But after 300 days, Republicans have taken little action to help put Americans back to work and still do not have a comprehensive plan. While children across the country dress as ghosts and goblins for trick or treating on Halloween night, Republicans are busy dressing up their partisan ideas as jobs bills, leaving the American people with plenty of tricks but no treats.

Rather than work with Democrats on bipartisan bills that are fully paid for and would help put more Americans back to work, Republicans insist on pursuing a partisan agenda. Now, they are urging Members to use a new pocket card to talk about their so-called “forgotten fifteen” jobs bills.

As President Obama said yesterday, we can’t wait. It’s time for Republicans to put country before party, and take action on these bills to help put more Americans back to work, grow our economy and help ensure more middle class families can succeed.

This week, House Republicans are bringing two partisan bills to the Floor that don’t create jobs, and instead are focused on advancing their ideological agenda. And according to economists, GOP economic proposals like rolling back regulations won’t help our economy in the near-term or create jobs.

With no comprehensive jobs plan and little action taken to help put more Americans back to work, Republicans signaled willingness in September to find common ground on job creation after hearing from their constituents over August that they wanted to see bipartisan cooperation.

As the fiscal year comes to an end today, it’s time for a fiscal new year’s resolution to bring down our nation’s deficit in a balanced way and restore fiscal responsibility. Democrats are committed to deficit reduction, and it will require tough choices for both parties as well as shared sacrifice by all Americans.

One year ago today, the Affordable Care Act’s “Patient’s Bill of Rights” went into effect, putting families, not insurance companies, in control of their health care and providing new health care freedoms for everyone from children to young adults to seniors.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we are reminded of the important contributions of the Latino community to our economy while at the same time we reflect on the fact that the Latino community has been one of the hardest hit communities by the recession. Democrats are committed to addressing this challenge by focusing on the Make It In America plan – a plan to support job creation by revitalizing American innovation and industry, rebuilding our communities and investing in education and our workforce.

The deficit reduction plan put forward by the President is a balanced approach to reduce the deficit, create jobs, strengthen entitlement programs and ensure that all Americans pay their fair share. But rather than work with Democrats on a balanced plan, Republicans immediately rejected the President’s proposal because it calls on all Americans to do their part. By opposing a plan that asks the wealthy to pay their fair share, Republicans will be forced to answer the question: Who do they stand with?

With President Obama sending the American Jobs Act to Congress on Monday, we here in the Democratic Whip Press Office thought we would take a look back at Congressional Republicans’ words and votes on many of the ideas central to President Obama’s proposal.

House Republicans have been on recess for 246 days – with no jobs plan and little action taken to help put more Americans back to work. And unfortunately, the schedule they have outlined for the Fall still doesn’t lay out any meaningful action on jobs. Democrats, on the other hand, are committed to taking action on Americans’ top priorities.

While Republicans have not put forward a comprehensive jobs agenda after eight months in the majority, Democrats are focused on supporting job creation through the Make It In America plan – a plan to promote job creation by providing an environment for businesses to innovate and make products here in the U.S., which will help more families Make It In America.